TELOS
TELOS (
Τῆλος: Eth.
Τήλιος:
Dilos or
Piscopia), a small rocky island in the Carpathian sea, between Rhodus and Nisyrus, from the latter of which its distance is only 60 stadia, Strabo (
x. p.488) describes it as long and high, and abounding in stones fit for millstones. Its circumference was 80 stadia, and it contained a town of the same name, a harbour, hot springs, and a temple of Poseidon.
The attribute long given to it by Strabo is scarcely correct, since the island is rather of a circular form.
The family of the Sicilian tyrant Gelon originally came from Telos. (
Hdt. 7.153.)
According to Pliny (
4.69) the island was celebrated for a species of ointment, and was in ancient times called Agathussa. (
Steph. B. sub voce Τῆλος; Scylax, p. 38;
Stadiasm. Mar. Magni, § 272.)
The town of Telos was situated on the north coast, and remains of it are still seen above the modern village of
Episcopi. The houses, it appears, were all built in terraces rising above one another, and supported by strong walls of unhewn stone.
The acropolis, of which likewise a few remains exist, was at the top, which is now occupied by a mediaeval castle. Inscriptions have been found in Telos in great numbers, but, owing to the nature of the stone, many of them are now illegible. (Comp. Ross,
Hellenica, i. p. 59, foll.,
Reisen auf den Griech. Inseln, iv. p. 42, foll.)
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